YAKIMA — Keep an eye on Port Angeles’ shifty shooting guard Xander Maestas for an entire game, and you’ll come away exhausted.
The senior is a frenetic bundle of energy on both ends of the court — likely the Roughriders best bet to penetrate a team’s defense with a deft display of dribbling and attack the rack — or slow down or shut down opposition backcourts with a good read, a steal and a breakout.
But basketball didn’t always come as smoothly for Maestas, even though he’s always played at breakneck speed.
“He’s always had that full-speed mindset,” coach Kasey Ulin said. “But he’s learned the pace of the game, how to read defenses. He was all go-go-go, and he still has plenty of that, but he’s found the right tempo and become a better passer.”
Maestas said he still plays too fast at times, but he’s aware and has tried to constrain himself.
“When I’m playing at my pace, I feel like I’m more in control and understand more about what’s happening in the game,” Maestas said.
Maestas was a true work in progress when he first walked into the Riders’ gym as a freshman.
“It’s unbelievable, man,” Ulin said of Maestas’ development. “From a skill set standpoint, he developed the ability to go to his left and right, because he couldn’t really finish or dribble with his right as a freshman.
“And he came into high school with shooting range stretching out about 10 feet. And he’s now a shooter who has hit over 40 percent from 3 [-point range] for the last two years. He’s become one of the best shooters in the state and that’s crazy to see from where he started.”
Getting better came the hard way.
“He put a lot of time into improving,” Ulin said. “He’s always in the gym early getting shots up and working on his shooting form.”
Maestas said he spent countless afternoons shooting hoops at Shane Park.
“I put a lot of hours into practicing and developed a love of the game,” Maestas said. “I’d put up more than 1,000 shots a day my freshman year, that was when I made the biggest leap. I was at a local park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. pretty much every day.”
And effort is never a question with Maestas.
“He was voted a team captain, which is tied into his character,” Ulin said. “He leads by example and plays harder than any kid we’ve had.
“We do highlights every day after practice, and his effort can almost be taken for granted because it’s so consistent, but he gives you everything he has every single practice.”
When people compliment Maestas on his play, he hears similar praise.
“That I show a lot of hustle and I’m somebody who gives it all every play,” Maestas said.
That energy extends to the defensive side of the game.
“So much growth from year to year,” Ulin said. “In picking up the terminology, understanding his role in our zone, man and press defenses and becoming a great on-ball and off-ball defender. Xander asks the right questions, wants to improve, wants to watch film and challenge himself. He can guard a point guard, a 6-4 shooter.”
With Port Angeles’ depth limited at state, Maestas will be asked to do even more if the Riders hope to hang around until the medal round Saturday.
“He’s had a number of huge games for us in his career,” Ulin said. “He had a 28-point game against North [Kitsap] in the [2021] league title game. He plays fearlessly, and the moment is never too big for him. That mentality actually helps our other guys’ confidence and brings others along.”
But Ulin said he appreciates the man Maestas is becoming even more than the player he’s developed into.
“We’ve been able to spend a lot of time off the court with him and develop an extremely close relationship and as great a basketball player he is, he’s an even better kid, always thoughtful and responsible,” Ulin said.
